Water's Edge Ucluelet Blog

By Jacqueline Windh

It’s the running event of the year for those of us who live in Tofino and Ucluelet—as well as for the hundreds of runners who come out to the edge of the island for the marathon (42 km), half-marathon (21 km), or marathon-relay (each runner’s distance ranging from 7 km to 10 km).

Tofino and Ucluelet just happen to be 40 km apart—so near to the standard marathon distance (which is actually 42.2 km) that it only seemed logical to organize a marathon here.

By Cassandra Anderton

During the month of May and into the first week of June, Tofino and Ucluelet are hosting Feast, a multi-venue celebration of all good things food and wine related in the area.

While there are always many culinary adventures to be had in the area, this is an opportunity to really delve into the local food culture. 

By Jacqueline Windh

The town of Tofino sits on the "mainland" of Vancouver Island.

But when non-native people first started to colonize Clayoquot Sound, back in the mid-1800s (coming from Europe, China and, later, Japan), there was no reason to favour the "mainland" because there were no roads.

> Read more of Jacqueline's post on the A-Life Blog

We're proud to be a gold sponsor of the 2nd Annual Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby, which runs from May 1st to September 7th, 2011!

This summer-long derby provides recreational fishers an opportunity to win cash and prizes all season, as well as helps to fund Ucluelet's local Chinook and Coho salmon hatchery program at Thornton Creek Hatchery.

Early-bird annual tickets ($35) are available for the season until May 31st, 2011. To purchase your tickets on-line, please visit the Salmon Derby website.

By Jacqueline Windh

Only in Tofino…

This Thursday, April 28th marks Tofino’s seventh annual Box Parade.

The Box Parade may not be one of the events that visitors ever hear much about—but it is actually an event that gives a look inside this strange community, an example of the town’s quirkiness.

> Read more of Tofino local Jacqueline Windh's post on the A-Life Blog!

Are you up to the challenge?

The 2011 Edge 2 Edge Marathon, Half-Marathon and Relay is just around the corner, happening on June 12, 2011 in Tofino and Ucluelet. 

Both the full and half marathon courses have spectacular views; a portion of the race crosses Chesterman Beach on the hard-packed sand and another portion follows the stunning Wild Pacific Trail. 

Last year the half-marathon event sold out, so register early this year if you want to run this challenging but beautiful course! 

Read last year's race recap on the A-Life Blog.

Looking for things to do in and around Tofino and Ucluelet this weekend?

Check out some of the recent posts by A-Life's Tofino- and Ucluelet-area bloggers Jacqueline Windh, Mike Stupka and Brent Baker!

More than just watching whales!

Half Moon Bay

Nuu-chah-nulth-aht: Original inhabitants of the West Coast

Working with our West Coast weather

Photo credit: Jacqueline Windh©

Although it seems hard to believe right now, with all of the snow we have had in Tofino and Ucluelet this week, the Pacific treefrogs are about to emerge from hibernation and fill our puddles and ditches with song.

What awaits us is a chorus—months of ribbeting—so incessant that it has been known to drive some people to fill in their backyard ponds to make it stop!

But not me. I love it! The sound of the first frog in spring brings me such joy.

The frogs here on the west coast of Vancouver Island usually start to sing around the first week of March. Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla) are one of only two native frog species we have here on the island.

By Brent Baker

For the past five years, Tofino and Ucluelet have been making waves for the high calibre of food and fine dining that is widely available. 

Periodicals such as Eat Magazine and numerous food bloggers have covered the Pacific Rim dining scene for years.  Events like the Tofino Food and Wine Festival and the Pacific Rim Whale Festival provide the opportunity for many of our culinary craftspeople to showcase their talents and represent the high-end establishments that make up the majority of our dining options.

By Jacqueline Windh

Winter is not as slow a time out here on the wet West Coast as it used to be. But January is still one of our quietest times - especially as far as culinary options go.

You won’t find many commercial chains in Tofino and Ucluelet at all, particularly regarding restaurants.

The good side of that is that most of our restaurants are operated by their owners: people who really care about the food they serve and their clients, and who craft menus that reflect their own creative spirit and who source fresh local ingredients.

The challenging side of that is that these owners need a break, too - and the January slow season is the time that many of them take it. Which means that, for both locals and visitors, restaurant options may be slim this time of year.

So it’s a sure sign of spring when the restaurants start to open again.